NFL ROUNDUP: Browns CEO, GM leaving team

BEREA, Ohio – The Browns fired their coach after one season. Now they’re sweeping out their front office.

Owner Jimmy Haslam announced Tuesday that CEO Joe Banner will step down in the next two months and general manager Michael Lombardi is leaving the team.

“Mike and Joe have left us in good position in terms of free agency and cap space as well as this year’s draft, where we have 10 overall picks and three of the first 35,” Haslam said at a news conference.

It’s yet another stunning development for a franchise that has undergone nearly constant change in the past 15 years.

Haslam also said assistant GM Ray Farmer, who was pursued by Miami to be the Dolphins’ GM this winter, has been promoted and will immediately take the over the team’s football operations and lead the Browns during free agency and draft. Cleveland has two first-round picks in May’s draft and is well under the salary cap to spend on free agents.

Haslam added that president Alec Scheiner will keep his current role.

“Alec Scheiner will run our business side and remain as president, Mike Pettine will be our head coach and Ray Farmer will be our GM,” Haslam said. “We will not have a CEO and those three people will report directly to me.”

The shake-up comes one month after the Browns finally hired coach Mike Pettine. Banner and Haslam had fired coach Rob Chudzinski after a 4-12 season, the team’s sixth straight with at least 11 losses. Wisconsin said Tuesday that coach Gary Andersen was contacted by the Cleveland Browns for their coaching vacancy but decided not to pursue the position following a conversation with the NFL team, which spent 25 days to hire Pettine.

“Mike will have final say on the 45-man roster – who plays on Sundays – and Ray will have final say on the 53-player roster,” Haslam said.

Banner, who previously worked in Philadelphia, was hired by Haslam to run the team shortly after his ownership was approved by the league in 2012.

“We appreciate Joe’s contributions to the Cleveland Browns, especially in helping us as new owners,” Haslam said in a release. “He was committed to creating a successful organization and bringing in talented individuals. We thank him for his work and dedication. We wish him and his family the best.”

CFL players fined

for Sam posts

MONTREAL – The Canadian Football League fined two players Tuesday for making inappropriate comments about openly gay football player Michael Sam.

Montreal Alouettes wide receiver Arland Bruce and Winnipeg Blue Bombers defensive tackle Bryant Turner Jr. were penalized undisclosed amounts on Tuesday for postings on social media. Bruce misspelled the word “gay” in his post, which urged Sam to “man up” and “get on your knees and submit to God fully.”

“The comments made by these players are extremely disappointing and do not represent the CFL’s views or the views of the vast majority of our players,” CFL Commissioner Mark Cohon said in a statement. “The CFL is supportive of openly gay athletes in professional sports and we commend the courage shown by Michael Sam.”

Bruce appeared in two NFL games with the San Francisco 49ers in 2003. He and Turner both played college football in the United States.